Tag: lake living

Great Closing Gifts for Closing on a Lake Home

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

GiftThe previous owner can thank the new owner by providing him with a closing gift as a sign of respect for the transaction done. In this article we will provide some great examples for closing gifts for closing on a lake home.

Spiritual gifts

Give a book that is all about love, joy, happiness, and belief as a gift to the new owner to congratulate them on a new start in an interesting way.

Dog and cat gifts

Families love their four legged animals and a gift for them would be appreciated deeply from all family members, in which the dog is included as well. You can buy dog and cat gift stacks with high quality products, cookies, doughnuts, and everything that pets will love.

Respecting new owner’s dog means you respect them as well. That is why this closing gift is highly recommended.

Patriotic gift

American FlagEvery American homeowner should have an American Flag in their home. That makes it a perfect closing and housewarming gift. Make sure the quality of the flag is high.

This gift is wonderful because everyone seldom thinks about buying it. The price is not high either; less than $50.

House portrait

If you really want to impress your client with a custom and great closing gift, provide them with a painting of the house where they are moving in.

Sign your name in the portrait and now it becomes a marketing piece. It is really impressive and amazes the clients every time. There are some websites where you can buy these portraits such as “CuteHousePortraits.Com”.

Night out

Rather than providing a materialistic gift, why not go out for a dinner and enjoy the night?

Make all the reservations for your dinner. Arrange limousine to pick you and your client up. Lastly, ask the restaurant staff to send a thank you letter to the client in your name. It would be truly memorable.

New experience

Similar to the last one, this is not materialistic but an activity. What if your client has everything and you do not know what to give to them?

How about for a new experience for which they will talk about years after? Choose a guided fishing trip on the lake or a sunset cruise on a sailboat.

Not only will it be an enjoyable outing, it will also help the homeowner to learn more about the lake that they will be living on!

Closing gifts are like the concluding remarks of an essay. If done properly and effectively, you will impress your audience, who in this case would be the client. It is the last thing they will see or hear from you so put some effort into it and you are almost guaranteed future referrals.

Benefits of a Mudroom in a Lake Home

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

When you are planning to construct a lake home or renovate it, consider adding a mudroom into it. Mudroom is usually placed in the garage, back door, or external location to the house.

MudroomThis room is used as an area where boots, umbrellas, outdoor toys, and many more things are stored. It is recommended that mudroom is made of wood or ceramic tile flooring for easy clean up.

When living on a lake, mudroom becomes especially necessary and useful room. There are several reasons pertaining to implementing a mudroom in your lake house. We will discuss some of them below.

Keep your house clean

The original purpose of the mudroom when it was initially started was to keep the house clean. Today, this statement still holds true, especially for families with children. The name of the room, mudroom, implies a place to take all dirty and wet items such as dirty boots or shoes, sports equipment, backpacks,  wet towels, etc.

Living  and playing on the lake will most likely mean you will return to the house wet or even muddy. Thus, all the dirt and mess goes in just one room, rather than the whole house. That makes it very easy to clean.

Store rarely used items

We all have those items that we almost never use but still occasionally come in handy. A mudroom eliminates this problem; it can be used as a storage room for these items as well to save the space from the other rooms.

For lake houses, this is an especially useful benefit. There are lots of equipment such as swim suits, hiking gears, rowing paddles, among other things that need to be stored somewhere. This is particularly true if you do not have a boat house.

Organize

This is especially helpful when season changes are taking place, and in the lake, these changes are greater. During these periods, there will be lake related material that you may not use for several months.

Winter season means we need gloves, hats, and coats whereas summer means shorts and flip-flops. Why let these clothes and accessories take all your space in the wardrobe when you can relocate all unnecessary clothing for the current season in the mudroom?

A mud room can be a great addition to any room, but they especially add value to homes by the lake!

How to Grow an Herb Garden in Your Kitchen

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

Herb gardenThere are many reasons why people chose to grow kitchen herb garden. They produce organic and healthy harvests and are cheap as well. They are easy to grow and all they need is sunlight and warmth. In case your kitchen lacks direct sunlight, you might place your herb in other rooms as well. Now, we’re going to give you a brief explanation on how to start your own kitchen herb garden.

The first step of growing kitchen herbs is deciding what plants we want to grow. The answer is simple; start with whatever you prefer to eat. Search on internet to find out what seeds or seedlings produce your favorite dish, and buy them at your local gardener.

The second step is to choose whether you need seeds or seedlings. You can buy seed packets, or buy herb seedling from local shops. If your choice is seedlings, make sure that the plant is not rootbound by checking the plant’s bottom.

Third step is to choose the seeds/seedlings that you want to buy. The most used seeds are Basil, Chives, Cilantro, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, etc. Ask your local gardener or look up online which one would be a better choice to produce the harvests you desire.

What you’ll need:

Soil: Mix soil, moss, and perlite to produce a high quality soil for your herb garden. You can also buy this mixed soil in most garden stores for a reasonable price.

Herb containerContainers: You will need lots of containers to put your herbs in. Look in your house if you have some unused containers. If not, check the garden stores, they will definitely have them. When you find them, create drainage holes in its sides before planting seeds/seedling.

Sunlight: The most important factor in growing herb garden is providing enough sunlight for them to be able to grow. They must be exposed to sun between four to six hours every day. Less light will most likely prevent growth.

Now that you have everything that you need, let’s get started.

  • Place seeds in water for about two to four hours before planting them in soil. This will fill them with water they will struggle to find when they initially get planted.
  • Fill all containers with soil up to one inch below the rim. Plant seeds approximately one fourth of inch below the top of the soil. Putting them lower will most likely prevent them from ever reaching the surface whereas putting them higher will most likely decrease the amount of nutrients they can take.
  • Place the container in a place out of direct sun light until it starts to grow and water it often. Note however, that different plants require different amounts of water per day.
  • When you see the herb growing out, move the container to an area with sunlight exposure between four to six hours a day. Continue to water them accordingly.
  • Large numbers of seeds growing in one container is not a good thing; it is actually dangerous for them. They will all feed from the same soil and will most likely lack nutrition. Thus, if several seeds grow, remove a few of them to allow the other seeds to grow. Be careful while you are removing the seeds, you might accidentally damage other seeds as well.
  • If planting seedlings, bury the roots in the soil and put it immediately in the sunny area.
  • When herbs are grown, harvest them. Leave the sprigs of every herb so they will grow back again so you will have herbs in the future as well.

By following these steps, you will create a kitchen herb garden and start growing your own healthy food.

What Type of Boat Fits Your Lifestyle?

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

Picking out a boat does not have to be a difficult process, you just need to know what you plan on using it for.

A boat will give your family many fun times and great memories on the lake. However, in order to do this, you have to choose what type of boat best fits your needs.

pontoon boat at sunset what boat type is best for youPontoon Boats

A pontoon boat is considered to be flotation device that can hold a large weighted load. It includes a flat surface unlike other boats and relies on pontoons to float. This boat is almost like a boat and raft hybrid.

Many people treat this as a floating patio due to the flat surface and the overhead roof. They barbeque and enjoy the day in the water.

Pontoons are great for families in all age ranges and make for a relaxing day out on the lake!

Bass Boats

Bass boats are a great way to go fishing in style. They are smaller than a pontoon boat and are designed for fishing and built for speed.

These typically only seat 2-3 people so you will have to plan your outings with just a couple of friends or maybe you and your two kids. Generally these boats are purchased for fresh water lakes and features swivel chairs, storage bins, and livewells for your catch.

You can store life preservers inside the boat, as well as fishing tackle and more. This is great (and obvious) choice if fishing is your priority.

Wake Boats

This specific boat is designed to offer a large shaped wake for wakeboarders to jump and launch from. The wakeboard is a V-drive boat which means that they are an inboard boat, which includes a rear-facing engine.

This type of engine is used in order to keep the weight placed towards the back of the boat. Another feature of this boat that is standard is a wakeboard tower. The tower is typically used to elevate the pulling position of ropes that allow the rider to launch and stay in the air much longer.

These boats are perfect for those who love to ski, wakeboard, or even wakesurf!

Canoe

CanoeThis boat is perfect for the minimalist. It is a lightweight narrow designed boat that seats 1-3 people. There are no motors here; canoes are propelled manually by the occupants using paddles.

They are used for many purposes that include racing, touring, camping, and whitewater canoeing. They are made of different woods and can vary in size depending on your needs.

Choosing a boat is all about determining what activities you plan to do on the lake. If you only plan to fish, then having a bass boat may be a great idea. However, if you plan on visiting with family, fishing, and swimming, then the pontoon boat may be the way to go.

No matter which boat you decide on, do your research before you buy. Then, and this is most important, be safe and have fun on the lake!

Curtain Wall Construction: Building With a Lake View

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

Most of the time when we think of a lake home or a boat house,  the first thing that comes to our mind is a great room with a fantastic view of the lake or surrounding area. In order to obtain such a view, we need a wall that is not obstructed by a lot of building post and other materials. One that will keep us from having that open feeling while we are in the room.

By using a method that has recently been adapted for smaller buildings, this effect can be obtained with no problem. A curtain wall with lots of glass will give you outstanding performance and provide many years of visual pleasure.

What is a curtain wall?

Curtain walls were developed for use on taller steel structures, such as multi-story buildings and skyscrapers. This method is one by which a steel structure is erected and a frame of lightweight aluminum and glass is hung on the side of the structure.

A metal frame would be custom built to the size and specifications to fit the building.

This frame is equipped with several different types of gaskets to hold the glass in place. The frame will then hang on the side of a building, much like a curtain would hang in your home.

In more recent years, developments have been made to adapt this same principle to smaller buildings such as residential dwellings.

Benefits of Curtain Wall Construction

There are several ways you will benefit when you choose to use a curtain wall in your construction or remodeling project. One of the best ways, is the opportunity to open your room up and give it a freeing, scenic view.

Most of the time when you design a lodge or a camp, you will have what is known as a great room. This is usually the first room you will encounter when you walk into a camp, lodge, or lake house.

When you look at the front of the room, you will more than likely be facing the lake or other important land features that are visible through a large opening in the building. This large glass filled opening can be obtained because of the curtain wall method.

You will also receive lifelong benefits from the glass and aluminum construction when it comes to maintenance. You will never have to worry about the frame rotting or it being in need of caulking and repainting each year.

You can also take advantage of the natural lighting that the glass will provide you, keeping the rooms nice and cozy during the winter months. The tinted glass will also help provide protection against the heat during the summer, lowering your cooling costs!

Get in touch with your local contractor and ask about curtain wall construction on your next lake home project, as it is a great option for lake living and the best views possible!

8 Amazing Lake Toys You Didn’t Know You Needed

Posted on Staff

The 2015 Atlanta Boat show has once again come and gone, and this year, it was bigger than ever! The Lake Homes Realty booth stayed busy with interested home buyers and sellers all weekend and was manned by corporate staff and a rotating list of lake expert agents from across five states.

While our primary goal at the show was to provide value to potential clients, I also took the opportunity to meet other exhibitors and learn about their lake focused companies.

Here is my list of the 8 unique lake toys that lake homeowners didn’t know they needed:

amphibious vehicle on the lake1. Quadski – Sports Amphibian

Located right across from our booth was the Gibbs Quadski, an ATV that transforms into a jetski in only 4 seconds! With this high end lake toy, you can go anywhere. It can reach speeds of 45MPH, both on land, and on the water. It is even rated for operation in salt water, so bring it with you on your next beach trip!

If you’re interested in checking out one of these bad boys, visit Hide Away Harbor in Tuscaloosa, AL, the regional vendor for Quadskis!

2. Bum Float

For a more affordable lake toy geared at relaxing in the lake, take a look at the bum float. It is a floatation device design to be worn where else? Your bum! While it may look like a big diaper out of the water, the bum float is the best way to relax in the lake with a cold beverage.

3. Floating Bar

Speaking of cold beverages, a great way to store and enjoy them while on the lake is the floating bar and cooler combo. This setup holds a 33 quart Coleman cooler, has 4 connectable table sections with cup holders, and is covered by a pop up canopy. Who wouldn’t enjoy having their own swim up bar at the lake?

4. Aqua Stairs

When it finally comes time to get out of the lake, nothing makes it easier than Aqua-Stairs. Instead of climbing a ladder to get back on the dock, the Aqua Stairs allows you to simply walk out of the water. It even allows pets a way to easily return to the dock; your canine pals will thank you.

5. Deluxe Patio Umbrellas

If you want to add some shade to an area, you may want to consider a patio umbrella from Vrienden. These monsters are up to 10’x10′. They are built to withstand winds up to 35 MPH, are quick and easy to reposition or take down, and come standard with LED lights built in.

6. Bob Light

For the fisherman, the Bob Light is a new type of bobber for night fishing. The LED on the float is pointed down into the water and illuminates the angler’s bait, helping to attract fish.

7. Ryan-O Dock Roller

Looking for a way to protect both your boat and your dock when entering or leaving your slip? The Ryan-O Dock Roller system prevents damage to both by placing a padded roller between your boat and your dock.

softub outdoors8. Softub

If you’ve thought about a hot tub for your lake home, you may want to consider a Softub. With 3 step installation you simply roll the spa where you want it, connect it to the Hydromate with a screw driver, and fill it up. It even operates off of a standard 120V outlet so you can set it up virtually anywhere.

Did you attend the Atlanta Boat Show this year? If so let us know what your favorite part of the show was, or if you have an item at the lake that you just can’t live without, send me an email and tell me about it!

Portrait of Eli Kirkley

Eli Kirkley is Director of Communications at Lake Homes Realty

Join Us At The 2015 Atlanta Boat Show

Posted on Staff

atlanta boat show presented by progressiveIt’s that time of the year again! The Atlanta Boat Show runs from January 15th through the 18th, and we would love to see you there!

Lake Homes Realty staff and real estate agents will be available throughout the entire show and look forward to discussing all things lake living!

Considering a lake home?

If you are thinking about buying a lake home, we want to make the process as easy as possible!

LakeHomes.com now has over 15,000 properties for sale across 105 lakes. We will have local, specialized lake agents from states across the South including Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee!

Our agents know the ins and outs of their lake market and will be more than willing to help you find a lake property that best fits your needs!

Tell us about your experience with Lake Homes!

Have you used LakeHomes.com to find a property or used a Lake Homes Realty real estate agent? We want to hear about your experience! Stop by the booth and tell us your story! We will be glad to share a token of our appreciation!

The show.

The Atlanta Boat show is an annual event and is a great place with something for the whole family. For the kids there will be a surfing simulator, a kids sea park, and a chance to meet Dora the Explorer.

For mom and dad there are fishing seminars, home improvement and DIY demonstrations, sailing tutorials, and of course, boats!

The schedule.

The show will be 11am-9PM this Thursday and Friday, 10-am-9pm on Saturday, and 10am-6pm on Sunday. The event takes place at the Georgia World Congress Center, hall C.

Lake Homes Realty will be located in the same space as last year, in booth 332,

How to be the World’s Best Lake Neighbor

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

No matter whether you are new to the area or you have lived alongside your lake for decades, it’s always important to be a good neighbor. You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. Or, the people you live next to. Here are a few tips to make living on your lake a pleasant experience for everyone. And, to make you the world’s best lake neighbor!

• If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association (HOA), the board will help enforce some standards about house and lawn maintenance. Trash in the yard will not be allowed, and neither will that bright pink roof.

If you don’t live in an HOA, don’t allow old lawn mowers or boat parts to stack up in your front yard. Your storage shed should also be tucked away and out of sight so your yard will be presentable at all times.

• Pets are great, but usually only if they are yours! If you have a pet that likes to wander, you will want to find out what it needs and try to get that for them closer to home. A “catio”, otherwise known as an enclosed patio, gives your cat that chance for breathing the fresh outdoor air, but she won’t be able to go over to the neighbor and torment his Chihuahua.

If instead you have a dog prone to barking, it is a good time to learn how to redirect that energy through an obedience class.

• Welcome newcomers to the area with a gift basket, but with added lake flair. Include a lake map, a gift card to the local marina, a list of nearby service providers, and a personal note explaining the ins and outs of the area.

• Be cognizant of your neighbors when it comes to parking cars. If you have a number of cars in your family, you may wish to let the neighbors on either side of you know. It’s also a good habit if you are having a party or get together to make your neighbors aware of the increase in the number of cars for that event.

• Be a person. In this digital age, it’s easy to shoot a message saying “Happy Birthday” or “Congrats”, but instead, walk next door and deliver the message yourself. Doing things like this in person carries much more weight than a Facebook post, and your neighbor will be very appreciative of your simple actions.

• Are you the local expert angler? Offer to take newbies on a fishing trip to share all your fishing hot spots.

• If you build on your property make sure that you are aware of just how big your structure really is. A tall tower or treehouse meant to give the kids a great hideout may prevent your neighbors from seeing out one direction or another. And you certainly don’t want to obscure the view of the lake, since after all, that lake is the big reason you all moved there.

• One of the big things that neighbors often argue over is where the property lines are really located. It’s very important to get a proper assessment from your county planning or land use office. With GPS tracking now, getting the boundaries right is easy. With that document in hand, no neighbor can succeed in disputing just where that fence can go.

• Finally, if you really want to be the world’s best lake neighbor, organize neighborhood “dock parties.” Think of it just like a block party. Instead of celebrating on the block, celebrate up and down the neighborhood shorelines by boat and on each others docks! This is a great way to get everyone together and do something as a community. All while enjoying the lake that you all love!

In the end, the easy way to think of neighbor relations is to adhere to the golden rule – treat others as you would wish to be treated. Then, act accordingly.

Festive Fall and Winter Decorations For Lake Homes

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

Fall and Winter are great times to put out festive holiday decorations. A lake home is no different! Here are some tips and ideas to help bring your holiday style to the lake!

Warm Climates

If you live in a warmer climate, consider taking some Adirondack chairs out to the end of your dock and bring along a few bright red, yellow, or autumnal plaid throws to curl up in and watch the sun set. A few vintage lanterns on side tables to light the way make for a nice touch.

Consider dining in the open air with great views. Gone are the hot nights and the bugs that go with them. In are cool, pleasant nights just meant for weekend grilling get-togethers. Have some chairs set around the deck for people to sit in and visit, particularly if they are softly stuffed chairs.

A fire pit makes for a very welcoming add-on for crisp autumn nights. Tuck away outdoor speakers in planters and rock walls for surround sound music wherever your guests go. As for color schemes, think of soft neutrals like beiges, tans, or warm grays for fall.

Any Climate

Lights make for a lovely accent no matter what time of year it is, so don’t just save them for the winter holiday season. If you have any artificial trees or trees surrounding your deck, dot them with either hanging lights or wind strings of lights around the branches for a soft lighting accent.

If you are decorating for the holidays, think about metallic ornaments on trees near the water so they will reflect off the water and provide double the beauty, just make sure they are securely attached to the tree!

Along the path from the water up to your house is a great place to utilize landscape lighting to provide a gentle glow. A fall wreath on your door decked out in driftwood or fishing lures can be both festive and perfectly appropriate, especially when viewed from the lake.

Colder Climates

It might be appropriate to consider doing the majority of your fall and winter decorating indoors, to both protect your cherished items from being exposed to the elements, and to keep your guests warm and cozy at the same time.

Think about using small natural trees or artificial ones in guest rooms adorned with lights and small ornaments. Using white furniture in the guest room gives a brightness to even the coldest day as the light reflects off of it to illuminate the room.

(Unsplash) fire pit: winter decorations for your lake homeFire pits or fireplaces are great gathering centers for the season. Imagine serving warm cider after a day at the local football game, surrounded by all of the colors of leaves and the gentle ripples of the water.

Have some corn stalks set up in bunches around the area, and if you can get a hold of them, perhaps some hay bales draped in blankets to use as benches instead of regular ones. A bushel of apples nearby makes for great snacking as well as a colorful accent.

When it comes to fall decorating, let your imagination run free. Just think of what is appropriate to your area weather-wise and what makes sense in terms of local availability. Above all else, enjoy this relaxing time of the year at the lake with family and friends!